Here is a collection of good-for-your-dog treats and canine cocktails you can make at home. Remember, though, not all dogs can tolerate all ingredients or even slight changes in their diets. To avoid upsetting your dog’s stomach, only give him a tiny taste of any new treat at first. And, of course, you should check with your vet to see if your dog has any specific dietary restrictions.

Baked Goodies

D.O.G. Bakery’s Peanut Barkers

makes approximately 24 treats

1 cup oatmeal (instant can be used)

1 cup warm water

3 tbs honey or molasses

3 tbsp natural peanut butter, either creamy or chunky

1 tbsp vegetable oil

1 tbsp shortening or margarine

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 cup white flour

Preheat oven to 325°F.  

Combine warm water and oats in large mixing bowl. Add honey or molasses, peanut butter, vegetable oil, and shortening or margarine. Mix well. Slowly add the flour to make dough that is not sticky to the touch. Use a rolling pin to roll out the dough to approximately ¼” thick. Take your favorite cookie cutter and cut out treats in your desired shape. Place the shaped dough on an ungreased cookie sheet, and poke each treat with a fork to keep the treats from puffing up. Bake for 45 minutes, and then leave in the oven to cool for about 1 hour.   Store treats in an airtight container.

Recipe graciously provided by D.O.G. Bakery.

Easy Cheesy Balls

makes approximately 15 treats

2 cups all-purpose flour

1¼ cups shredded mild cheddar cheese

½ cup canola oil

non-stick cooking spray

Preheat oven to 400°F.  

Mix together flour, cheese, and canola oil.   Knead well to produce a semi-firm dough.   Using a tablespoon make rounded balls out of the dough. Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart onto a very lightly greased cookie sheet. Cook for 12 to 15 minutes or until slightly browned. Let cool and then refrigerate in an airtight container.

Sweet Potato Dreams

makes approximately 16 treats

1 large sweet potato

approx 3 tsp canola oil

3/4 tsp bone meal

Slice the sweet potatoes into very thin round discs and place into a bowl. Pour 1.5 tsp of canola oil over the sweet potato discs so both sides of the sweet potatoes are very thinly coated with the oil. Sprinkle the bone meal over both sides of the sweet potatoes – the oil will make the bone meal stick to the sweet potatoes. Pour the remaining 1.5 tsp canola oil into a baking dish to coat the bottom of the dish. Add a bit more canola oil if the bottom of the dish is not sufficiently coated.

Place the potato discs in the baking dish making sure that the discs do not touch each other. Bake, flipping the discs halfway, for about 20 minutes or until the discs are lightly browned and soft. Let cool and then refrigerate in an airtight container.

Canine Cocktails

The Dirty Muttini

1 cup fresh water

1/4 cup fresh beef broth, chilled (do not use canned or store-bought

broths which usually contain onions and other ingredients not tolerated

well by dogs)

Mix and serve in a low martini bowl.

Garnish with a plain ground beef meatball.

serves one

1 cup fresh water

1/4 cup fresh chicken broth, chilled (do not use canned or store-bought

broths which usually contain onions and other ingredients not tolerated

well by dogs)

Mix and Serve in a footed bowl.

Garnish with a Happy Hips® chicken breast strip.

Canine cocktails graciously provided by Herb Westphalen Signature Cocktail Creations.